When you think of typical seaside creatures, you think of something like seagulls, right? Maybe tiny fish in the shallows, or those little crabs scuttling over the rock pools. You don’t usually think of pigs.
Neither did we so this is why we had to go see No Name Cay’s famous pigs during our adventure elopement.
The Cay with No Name
On the first full day of our trip, we chartered a boat and we had the captain take us to No Name Cay. This little island sits just south of Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos, the northern-most region of the Bahamas.
When we say “little island”, we mean little. The only things you’ll find on this strip of land are a restaurant and bar with a big deck and swimming pool, and the pigs, trotting around in the surf. That day we were the island’s only visitors, which definitely set the mood for the whole experience. It’s a shame: ever since Hurricane Dorian in 2019, places like this don’t have the same level of tourism as before.
We docked at the restaurant, where a friendly dock-hand named Stanley helped us tie up the boat. And there, we met the pigs.
No Name Cay’s famous pigs…on the Beach?
The Swimming Pigs of the Abacos are wild animals, but they’re so used to humans that they’re considered domesticated. In the mornings you’ll find them sunning themselves along the beach, and if it gets too hot, they’ll lounge in the shade beneath the coconut palms.
This tiny island may not have a name, but it actually has a nickname: the locals have rightly dubbed it ‘Piggyville.’ These feral pigs aren’t native to the Bahamas, as you might’ve guessed. Although no one knows for sure how they came to be there, there are a few theories. Some think sailors left them there as a food source, hoping to return later. Others wonder if the pigs survived a shipwreck and swam ashore to a new home.
However they came to be there, they’ve become a popular tourist attraction, and guides have added No Name Cay to the list of their day-trip destinations. Although the pigs do scrounge around for food, locals often bring them fresh water, fruit, and veggies. Tourists’ contributions also help keep the pigs healthy.
Swimming with No Name Cay’s famous pigs
The day we swam with the pigs, it was a little chilly, but the promise of food was enough to coax them closer. We waded out into the shallows, and the pigs came out to join us. Stanley the dock-hand showed us how to feed them pieces of cut-up apple, keeping our hands flat. They’re used to people, but they’re still wild animals with sharp teeth, so we had to be careful to avoid getting bit.
We’re not sure who loved the whole experience more—us or the pigs! They were all about the food, and we were all about the cuteness. We even picked up the squealing piglets (and set them down as soon as their mother came running). To walk around on soft sand and in crystal-clear water, feeding pigs, was an experience unlike any other.
The Good Ones
Afterward, Stanley invited us up to the restaurant. We’d already eaten a late breakfast, but we agreed to come in for a drink and to look around.
As we walked in, Bahamian music was blaring through the speakers so we started dancing; it seemed appropriate given we were the only ones there. We told one of the bartenders that we were getting married on the weekend and she immediately changed the song to “The Good Ones” by Gabby Barrett.
I (Emily) looked straight at Cole. “No way—did you tell her?” But he hadn’t said a thing; he was as surprised as I was.
What the bartender didn’t know: she had chosen the song we’d planned for our first dance! So we kept dancing! We were still the only people in the restaurant, except for the staff plus Holly and Ryan (@purelyfilms) who were there to capture our several-day-long adventure. It was a special moment, and it definitely got our wedding adventure off to a good start.
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How can you visit No Name Cay’s famous pigs?
We promised we haven’t randomly photoshopped pigs into our Bahamas beach photos, but if you’re in the area and you need to see these famous pigs for yourself, head over to No Name Cay. Buy a drink at the Swimming Pigs Bar and Restaurant—you might even get to dance to a well-loved song.
Local guides offer island-hopping tours, some of which include a stop at No Name Cay to see the Swimming Pigs. Brendal’s Dive Center offers a 2.5-hour tour, or they can include it in a long day trip. Sunset Marine is another tour option.
If you’re confident handling your own boat, you can rent one from Marsh Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, or Turtle Cay.
If you do visit the Swimming Pigs of the Abacos, be sure to bring them a snack! Apples seem to be a favorite, but they’re pigs on a beach—they probably won’t be too picky.
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